Albert Schnez

Albert Schnez

Albert Schnez in 1967
Born (1911-08-30)30 August 1911
Abtsgmünd, Baden, German Empire
Died 26 April 2007(2007-04-26) (aged 95)
Bonn, Germany
Allegiance  Weimar Republic
 Nazi Germany
 West Germany
Service/branch Reichswehr
Wehrmacht
Bundeswehr
Years of service 1930–1945
1957–1971
Rank Lieutenant general
Unit 25th Panzergrenadier Division
Commands held 5th Panzer Division (1962)
III Corps (1965)
Inspector of the Army (1968)
Awards German Cross in Gold (1944)
Federal Cross of Merit (1971)

Albert Schnez (30 August 1911 – 26 April 2007) was an officer in three successive German armies: the Reichswehr, the Wehrmacht, and finally the Bundeswehr, the armed forces of the modern Federal Republic of Germany. He was involved in the debate on the internal leadership of the newly formed Bundeswehr and was close to the German defense minister, Franz Josef Strauss. Schnez served from 1968 to 1971 with the rank of lieutenant-general (Generalleutnant) as the Inspector of the Army.

From 1949, Schnez, together with other veterans of the Wehrmacht and Waffen-SS, built a clandestine shadow army, the "Schnez-Truppe", that intended to fight against the Soviet Union.[1] By 1951, Chancellor Konrad Adenauer had learned of the existence of this secret army and its head Schnez, but evidently declined to act against them.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 Klaus Wiegrefe (14 May 2014). "Files Uncovered: Nazi Veterans Created Illegal Army". Der Spiegel.
Military offices
Preceded by
Generalleutnant Josef Moll
Inspector of the Army
1 October 1968 – 30 September 1971
Succeeded by
Generalleutnant Ernst Ferber
Preceded by
Generalleutnant Heinrich Gaedcke
Commanding General, III Corps (Bundeswehr)
1 April 1965 – 30 September 1968
Succeeded by
Generalleutnant Gerd Niepold
Preceded by
Generalmajor Günther Pape
Commander of 5th Panzer Division (Bundeswehr)
1 October 1962 – 31 March 1965
Succeeded by
Generalmajor Heinz Hükelheim
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